Blogging Away Debt

At the beginning of August I shared that we held back $300 from the small credit card payment and that I would post about that later.

This is sort of a confession I guess in that I have not planned well for a wardrobe budget. Over the past few months with my changing weight and various work related activities, it has become evident that my wardrobe is lacking. I’m confident this isn’t an “I don’t like what I have in my closet” issue but instead the product of trying to save money but ending up with a bunch of useless items that don’t have corresponding pieces.

If I could find Garanimals for Adults, I’d be their biggest customer. I wore uniforms through most of my school years, wished I could wear uniforms in college and seriously considered the military because they would tell me what to wear. I didn’t go with that option because they would tell me how to do a lot of things and back then (and a little bit now), I don’t do well being told what to do and how to do it.

I am not good at picking out clothes for work or play. That’s why I owed Ann Taylor so much money! I’d literally walk in and buy everything to assemble an outfit they had on display but then I’d get home and realize that created just that one outfit. The top didn’t go with much else…the bottoms weren’t interchangeable either and I want to be able to mix and match but not look mixed and matched! People often ask me if I want a personal assistant to manage my busy life and the answer is always know…but I dream of a personal shopper! I’d like to just stay home and have perfect outfits brought to me that always look good, are versatile, fit well and last. Well, who wouldn’t want that, right?

So the $300 is a set aside for Operation Wardrobe. I’m reaching out to good dressers that I know do so on a budget and asking them for help. Once I build up a little bit more in the wardrobe fund, we will go shopping. I know this isn’t frivilous spending because my profession does require this…but I still don’t want to spend! That’s a good thing!

Phone Call with the Boss

by Claire

Last week the decision regarding the promotion at the office was again postponed. I posted about that and then really took some time to think about a comment made by a reader referencing “what would a leader do?” given the impact all of this is having on our office. After I read that I really took some time to think and pray and confirmed that my desire to call him did not come from a purely selfish motive of “Did I get the job or not?” but instead was truly motivated by my conversations with co-workers about our shared frustration with the state of our office.

So I sent him an instant message and asked that he give me a call and he did so pretty quickly. I immediately explained I realized that my calling could look very selfish given the pending decision but I was confident I was calling with a “greater good” motivation–not purely selfish ones. We first discussed an announcement regarding two employees in an out-of-state office (not in my department but from a group my department works closely with) being relocated. While that annoucement wasn’t entirely unexpected, the timing of it was such that it was another building block in the “Tower of Stress” that has become our workplace. We also discussed some silly issues regarding ordering equipment and such that also have people talking. Finally we discussed the 8 month wait for local leadership and that the impact of that cannot be ignored. I’m not positive but it sure did seem like he was surprised that it had been so long. I think that happens when you are not on site–no one’s fault really–just the nature of the beast. Out of sight, out of mind? He was receptive and seemed genuine when he thanked me for communicating and I told him it is either a sign that I’m the smartest or the dumbest in the office! He expressed regret that we are feeling the way we are feeling b/c he has absolutely NO information to suggest our office is facing cutbacks or downsizing at all. The staff members are rightfully worried and while I recognize there may be things at play that we cannot be privy too—I also think it important that if you give a group of people a date certain and then that cannot be met…they need more than just a cancellation. It was a good conversation and he explained–to the extent he could–that the most recent delay was unexpected for him as well and had more to do with the schedule of others.

Here’s the great news though—I was really able to put all of this to rest again after that call. Not because he said anything to reassure me or prepare me by any means–but instead because it is truly what needed to be done. I’m a huge proponent of communicating and believe that so many of life’s problems come from a total lack of communication! After our phone call he decided to come for a visit tomorrow–and clearly said there is no news to share–but that he understands that his superiors will be making the announcment the following week. I’m not concerned with that at all–I just feel better having communicated the office issues. That was the right thing to do and I am the person to do it–whether I get the promotion or not–I did the right thing.